The Shadoks were bird-like in appearance (in the tradition[citation needed] of cartoon birds they had beaks with teeth), were characterised by ruthlessness and stupidity and inhabited a two dimensional planet.

This planet was of irregular shape, which was continuously changing - causing major earthquakes - hence their desire to find a new home world.

The Shadoks were eventually able to leave their world thanks to the improved intelligence of one of their number; who happened to find a hat which one of the Gibis had lost.

Rouxel claims that the term Shadok obtains some derivation from Captain Haddock of Hergé's The Adventures of Tintin and the Gibis (who wear Bowler hats, which unlike their heads, contain their brains) are essentially GBs (Great Britons).

Even today, the French occasionally use satirical comparisons with the Shadoks for policies and attitudes that they consider absurd.